[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 9 (Thursday, January 15, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S591]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            VOTE EXPLANATION

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I would like to briefly explain my vote 
against final passage of S. 22, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act 
of 2009. I would like to be clear that I do not oppose every aspect of 
this bill, nor do I oppose the notion that our Nation's most unique and 
precious natural features should be protected for the use and enjoyment 
of future generations. As with many large omnibus bills, there are a 
number of provisions that enjoy strong support in the Senate. However, 
taken as a whole, this bill represents an enormous commitment of 
federal resources in perpetuity that we simply cannot afford at this 
time. For years, our existing national parks, wildlife refuges, and 
other public lands have been faced with a backlog of much-needed 
maintenance projects because we have not had the resources to do 
everything that needs to be done along with competing budget 
priorities. Now, in the midst of an economic downturn and on the eve of 
considering an historically large economic stimulus package, the strain 
on Federal budgets has rarely been greater. In light of this fact, it 
is intellectually dishonest to promise to the American people that the 
Federal Government will protect and maintain additional Federal lands 
when we know that we are not even able to fully keep our current 
commitments. For that reason, I felt it necessary to vote no on this 
bill at this time.

                          ____________________